Russell Crowe

In Contention's Kris Tapley, refreshed after a sojourn from his labors, and I reconvene for a summer edition of Oscar Talk. We cover the lacklustre spring season, look forward to Cannes and the summer, and dissect Iron Man 2.

While comparisons will abound between Ridley Scott's new take on Robin Hood and all the prior iterations of the great Sherwood Forest legend, Sophia Savage wonders if she'll be able to move on from her girl crush on Kevin Costner in Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves. Even Russell Crowe seems a tad thre...

The Festival de Cannes announces that filmmaker Claire Denis (White Material) will preside over the Un Certain Regard jury. I have also learned that Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal (whose new Spanish film Even the Rain is tagged for possible inclusion in the fest) and Italian actress Giovanna Mezzo...

It's not official yet, but it looks pretty sure that Oliver Stone will finally be making his Cannes debut, with the sequel Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, starring Michael Douglas 23 years after his first turn as Gordon Gekko, and Carey Mulligan as his daughter. Shia LaBeouf and W star Josh Brolin ...

The Cannes Film Festival has selected its opening night film: Ridley Scott's Robin Hood, starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett. The period actioner will screen out of competition on May 12, the day it opens in France. Universal releases the Imagine film globally on May 14.

Which of the movies advertised on Super Bowl Sunday convinced you to see them? Vote in this poll. My guess before anyone starts voting? Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland wowed the most eyeballs. Am I right?

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World has all the elements of the kind of movie that keeps studio heads up at night: it's literary (based on the Patrick O'Brian seafaring series), period (Napoleonic), expensive (close to $150 million), packed with action (swords, pistols, rifles and cannons) and VFX (ships at sea under fire). That's why, even though the Napoleonic adventure movie looks like a success, grossing $209.5 million worldwide, it was a nail biter for Twentieth Century Fox co-chairman Tom Rothman at the time. (He took on partners in the venture, and had to push back the release to get the FX finished.) The well-reviewed awar...

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World has all the elements of the kind of movie that keeps studio heads up at night: it's literary (based on the Patrick O'Brian seafaring series), period (Napoleonic), expensive (close to $150 million), packed with action (swords, pistols, rifles and cannons) and VFX (ships at sea under fire). That's why, even though the Napoleonic adventure movie looks like a success, grossing $209.5 million worldwide, it was a nail biter for Twentieth Century Fox co-chairman Tom Rothman at the time. (He took on partners in the venture, and had to push back the release to get the FX finished.) The well-reviewed awar...